Sense of "foremost part of anything" developed in Latin. The military sense of "foremost part of an army" (mid-14c.) led to the meaning "field of operations in contact with the enemy" (1660s). Home front is from 1919. Sense of "public facade" is from 1891; that of "something serving as a cover for illegal activities" is from 1905. Meteorological sense first recorded 1921. Front yard first attested 1767.

v.

1520s, from Middle French fronter, from Old French front (see front (n.)). Related: Fronted; fronting.

The boundary between two air masses that have different temperatures or humidity. In the mid-latitude areas of the Earth, where warm tropical air meets cooler polar air, the systems of fronts define the weather and often cause precipitation to form. Warm air, being lighter than cold air, tends to rise, cool, and condense along such boundaries, forming rain or snow. See also cold front, occluded front, polar front, stationary front, warm front.

front

noun

The appearance and impression one presents publicly; facade: This and his stickpin, his two diamond rings, and his shirts and the gabardine suit composed his ''front''/ He's a real coon type. But that's just front(1896+)

(also front man) A respectable and impressive person who represents or publicly supports persons lacking social approval: Inability to hire a professional bondsman and ''good front'' results in a quick trial/ Ian Anderson, the band's flute-playing front man(1920s+)

An ordinary and unexceptionable business used as a cover for gambling, extortion, etc, esp as a way of decontaminating ill-gotten money: The candy store was a front for his bookie business(1920s+)

verb

: If you ask them to front for you, they know you're going to do something

(also front man) To be the leading figure of: Terry Frank, who fronted the blues outfit Bone Deluxe since 1980(1990s+)

To give something, esp narcotics, on promise of payment: I'll front you some of this shit if you pay me by Thursday(1960s+ Narcotics)